Young Reporters for the Environment – The National Wildlife Federation Bloghttp://blog.nwf.org
The National Wildlife Federation's blogThu, 24 May 2018 16:06:07 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.5139259312We’ve Got Problems, They’ve Got Solutions: 2015 Young Reporters for the Environment Competition Winnershttp://blog.nwf.org/2015/06/weve-got-problems-theyve-got-solutions-2015-young-reporters-for-the-environment-competition-winners/
http://blog.nwf.org/2015/06/weve-got-problems-theyve-got-solutions-2015-young-reporters-for-the-environment-competition-winners/#respondWed, 10 Jun 2015 14:11:09 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=107235Did you ever wonder how your community deals with invasive species like Kudzu? How about what GMO’s really are and why they are of concern? What about how communities are dealing with Styrofoam? Did you ever wonder if your town might run out of water?

All of these environmental issues were addressed by students ages 13-21 as part of National Wildlife Federation’s Young Reporters for the Environment Program (YRE). Students that participated in the competition investigated a local environmental problem or issue, and proposed solutions. They documented their work, through writing, photography or video and reported on it to a variety of local audiences.

Submissions were awarded by a prestigious group of national and international jurists that volunteered their expertise and time to evaluate and provide comments to all entries that met the program requirements.

All 1st place winning entries were submitted to the International YRE competition where participants competed against others from 25 different countries. This year, YRE-USA is proud to have two winners in the international competition!

Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is an international program that engages youth in environmental journalism in 25 countries. In the United States, YRE is hosted in the United States by the National Wildlife Federation and is open to students between the ages of 13 and 21; the program is coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) worldwide. For more information, please go to: www.yre-usa.org.

Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is hosted by the National Wildlife Federation; the program is coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) worldwide. This year’s deadline for submission is March 15, 2014. The competition is open to students between the ages of 13 and 21.

“The action by the TCEQ Commissioners unnecessarily invites yet another round of contentious endangered species issues under federal law, said Tyson Broad, Research Associate with the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. The upper reaches of the Brazos River watershed are the last remaining habitat for two fish species—the sharpnose shiner and the smalleye shiner—proposed for listing as endangered species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “TCEQ had the opportunity to adopt rules that would have gone a long way toward protecting these two species, but unfortunately chose not to do so.”

NWF in the News

“The State Department analyzed a certain route in Nebraska and a judge has now thrown that route out,” said Jim Murphy, an attorney with the National Wildlife Federation, which opposes the pipeline. “I would think that a path to approval is very difficult.”

“In the United States alone, native bees contribute at least $3 billion a year to the farm economy,” Mace Vaughan, pollinator program director at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation in Portland, Ore., told the National Wildlife Federation in July. “We grossly overlook the critical role these animals play.”

The Sierra Club and National Wildlife Federation recently sought an injunction to stop construction, but U.S. District Court Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson ruled against them, noting that the environmental groups failed to prove “irreparable harm” would result if construction proceeded while litigation to stop the pipeline continued.

The National Wildlife Federation is urging sportsmen to do their part to help slow down or reverse climate change, concluding in its latest report “Nowhere to Run: Big Game Wildlife in a Warming World” that many big-game species across North America are already being affected and could be headed for a big fall.

The National Wildlife Federation has noted that the Asian Carp pose a threat to the waters they inhabit and they want to begin efforts to mitigate their eventual presence in the Great Lakes region. They believe that the carp’s migration can be halted if the Mississippi River Basin waterways are separated from the Great Lakes.

“Senator Landrieu has proven herself to be a champion for restoration of the Mississippi River Delta, as well as an effective legislator, notably demonstrated by her leadership in crafting and passing the bipartisan Restore Act,” the groups said in a written statement.

A report released last year by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) confirmed that the gulf’s dolphins, sea turtles, and many fish including the Atlantic bluefins were in fact continuing to die in record numbers three years after the 2010 spill – which is considered the worst spill in petrochemical history.

Young people may enter as individuals or as part of a class or group. Participants investigate an environmental issue and report on it in writing, photography, or video. Entries are due by March 15, 2014, and must be relevant to participants’ local community, connect to a global perspective, include possible solutions, and be disseminated to an appropriate target audience.

Last year’s first place video winner, Zachary Korff, had this to say about his experience with YRE USA, “The YRE contest is more than a competition. The YRE competition is a way for you to positively impact the environment, help people understand your viewpoint on an issue, and to have fun. One of the best things that I figured out was that the only limit to what you can do is what you can think of. I would recommend this competition to anyone who thinks that they see a problem in the environment that needs to be solved.”

Oct 17- Congressional leaders have reportedly reached a deal to end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling.

Adam Kolton, executive director of the National Wildlife Federation’s National Advocacy Center, said today:

“We welcome the bipartisan agreement in the Senate that will reopen the government and avert a catastrophic default. These past days when our National Parks, National Wildlife Refuges and other public lands have been shuttered has reminded us all of the values these cherished landscapes have not only for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and outdoor recreation but as engines for local economies and communities.

Oct 16- Fish and wildlife are returning to rivers after decades-long absences. Businesses are sprouting along revitalized waterfronts. People are fishing, boating and swimming in harbors and rivers once deemed toxic hot-spots. These are some of the powerful stories about how federal efforts to restore the Great Lakes are producing results for people, communities, businesses, and fish and wildlife.

The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is announcing that its interactive map illustrating how federal investments are restoring the Great Lakes now features 100 projects that have cleaned up toxic hot spots, restored wetlands, reduced runoff from cities and farms and advanced efforts to keep new invasive species out of the lakes.

The success stories are spread across the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania. Additional restoration success stories will be added to the map as more projects are completed.

And, like their human sisters, female mandrills don’t mind a flashy-looking guy. In fact the National Wildlife Federation reports that though vocalization, size, and the ability to fight count in mating success, paternity studies show that it’s the males with the brightest colors who sire more offspring.

“Normal algae is bad enough. It gums up your boat motor. It’s yucky to swim in and it’s unpleasant, but this toxic algae actually threatens people’s health, and threatens the health of animals and pets that go in the water,” Buchsbaum warned. “So it’s really something to be alarmed about, that we’re experiencing this many across the country.”

National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest conservation organization, recently announced the Hike and Seek event at the Seneca Creek State Park on Saturday in Gaithersburg, Md., just outside of Washington, D.C.

National Planting Day celebrates the value of native species in restoring ecological balance to the environment while creating greener, more beautiful communities. The free tree giveaway is part of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) ‘Trees For Wildlife’ program.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2013/10/weekly-news-roundup-oct-18-2013/feed/087226Q & A with Student Winner of the Young Reporters Competitionhttp://blog.nwf.org/2013/06/q-a-with-student-winner-of-young-reporters-competition/
http://blog.nwf.org/2013/06/q-a-with-student-winner-of-young-reporters-competition/#commentsWed, 05 Jun 2013 19:22:36 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=80948National Wildlife Federation’s Young Reporters for the Environment USA program recently reported the results of its inaugural environmental journalism competition. First place winners proceeded to the international Young Reporters competition for another round of judging. International results are announced publicly today, on World Environment Day. We are delighted to share that Zachary Korff, whose piece won the video prize and special distinction in our national contest, also claimed the first place video award in the international competition in his age category (11-14).

Zachary Korff. Photo by Rosalyn Cooperman Korff.

I asked Zachary, a student at Irving Middle School in Springfield, Virginia, a few questions about his project and his growing interest in environmental journalism. Here’s what he had to say:

How did you decide to participate in the Young Reporters for the Environment program?

My science teacher introduced it as a fun project we could do if there was something we were concerned about in the environment. I thought it sounded like a good mental exercise and decided to take on the challenge.

Your video, “A Tale of Two Trails,” focuses on two mountain biking trails in your community and how riding in wet conditions damages them. How did you choose this topic?

I have a strong connection to those trails. I’ve been on them a lot, and it’s sad to see them go to ruin when people could prevent it. I wanted to educate people about the issue and help solve the problem.

In the time since you made your video and began sharing it with your community, have you seen any progress toward a solution to this issue?

The video has gotten a lot of views, and a lot of people have said they like it and will share it. I’m pretty sure it’s made a bit of a difference already. My dad says he’s heard that slightly fewer people are using the trails when they are wet.

The Young Reporters competition invites students to report on environmental issues in writing, photography, or video. Why does the video format appeal to you? Did you have previous experience making videos?

I chose the video format because I thought it would be the best way to express what I had to say. With video, you can show something happening and at the same time you can describe it in words. I like to write and I know it’s an important way to communicate, but I felt I wouldn’t be able to express myself as well that way, and I didn’t think a photo would work as well either. I hadn’t made a video like this before, but I had used some similar technology. I felt comfortable with the techniques and learned as I went.

Sign on mountain biking trail. Photo by Zachary Korff.

Are you interested in doing more environmental reporting? Are there any other issues that you’d like to investigate?

Yes, but I’m not sure what yet. There are lots of things I’m concerned about, but I’m looking for something that I have experience with and that’s just as important to me personally as this topic was. I think I can better express myself when I really know and care about something, so I need to find a really good topic that strikes a chord with me.

What has been the most interesting or exciting outcome of having your video chosen as a winner in both the U.S. and international Young Reporters competitions?

All the feedback has been really interesting. It’s exciting that people like the video and are willing to share it with others. The certificate is nice, but I really made this video for the environment. The best part is that the video is accessible in other places, so people can learn from it and spread the word. The goal is to help the trails.

Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

I’d like to thank National Wildlife Federation and everyone who’s made this possible! I hope it will encourage other kids to do things like this.

The Young Reporters for the Environment USA program encourages students to start thinking about projects now in preparation for next year’s competition!

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2013/06/q-a-with-student-winner-of-young-reporters-competition/feed/180948Young Reporters Program Announces 2013 Winnershttp://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/young-reporters-2013-winners/
http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/young-reporters-2013-winners/#commentsFri, 03 May 2013 18:07:54 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=79882National Wildlife Federation’s Young Reporters for the Environment USA program is pleased to announce the winners of its inaugural environmental journalism competition. The Young Reporters program invites students to investigate an environmental issue in their community and report on it in writing, photography, or videography.

Students share their journalism pieces in their own communities. They also submit them to the Young Reporters competition for judging by a panel of jurors with a range of related expertise. The jury carefully reviewed each entry, provided helpful feedback to students on what made their pieces effective as well as suggestions for taking their work to the next level, and named winners for each media type in two age categories.

Young Reporters for the Environment USA is part of the international YRE program, which encompasses programs in 27 countries worldwide. Here in the United States, students between the ages of 13 and 18 participate. First place winners in our competition proceeded this week to the international competition for another round of judging.

3rd Prize: “Green Roof on the Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology Edgewood Campus” Building by Zack Fries and Marquea Schwing (Kenton County Academies of Innovation and Technology, Edgewood, KY)

“A Tale of Two Trails” (1st prize winner for video in the 13-15 years age category)

Young Reporters USA congratulates these students and all who submitted entries. We appreciate the time and energy they have dedicated to investigating important environmental issues and sharing the information they uncovered in writing, photo, and video. Balanced, objective, and solutions-oriented coverage of these issues is critical to protecting and restoring our communities and our planet. Young Reporters USA looks forward to expanding the program in years to come and helping more students hone their skills as environmental journalists.

For more about the Young Reporters USA program, including the criteria and schedule for the competition, see www.yre-usa.org

For links to the winning entries and comments from the jury about what makes an effective piece of environmental journalism, please visit www.yre-usa.org/winners.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2013/05/young-reporters-2013-winners/feed/179882Eco-Schools Mentor Visits from Waleshttp://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/eco-schools-mentor-visits-from-wales/
http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/eco-schools-mentor-visits-from-wales/#respondWed, 03 Apr 2013 14:14:48 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=76187The NWF Eco-Schools USA team was thrilled to host Lesley Jones, our Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) mentor, last month. Lesley is the Chief Executive Officer for Keep Wales Tidy which operates the Wales Eco-Schools program. We asked Lesley to say a few words about her visit here to the United States, and her very first visit to the Washington, D.C. area.

Throughout my visit to NWF I was so impressed with all the work that is going on to develop the Eco-Schools and YRE programmes in the USA. The range of resources available through a very accessible website provide great support to schools – both staff and pupils. I was also very interested in the work done to demonstrate the benefits of Eco-Schools in supporting good education through an applied learning focus.

I was privileged to visit one of the USA’s first Eco-Schools, Churchill Road Elementary School in Fairfax County. So much work is going on there to reduce waste, particularly food waste through composting and sharing as well as recycling and upcycling. The children learn so much in practical ways through growing their own fruit and vegetables – it was very inspiring.

I was also very interested to learn more about the history and development of NWF from Kevin Coyle and Laura Hickey and spend time in their beautiful offices. I managed to find time to take a walk in the woodlands around the office and was very excited to see a cardinal. (We just don’t have such beautiful and colourful birds in the UK.)

I had such a great time and wonderful hospitality from Laura and NWF. I hope I can visit again some day.

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We thank Lesley for her kind words and guidance in support of our programs!

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2013/04/eco-schools-mentor-visits-from-wales/feed/076187Malta Hosts Young Reporters for the Environment Meetinghttp://blog.nwf.org/2013/03/malta-hosts-young-reporters-meeting/
http://blog.nwf.org/2013/03/malta-hosts-young-reporters-meeting/#respondTue, 12 Mar 2013 18:01:34 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=76142The small and densely populated island nation of Malta was this year’s host for the annual meeting of the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) program. As the National Wildlife Federation’s coordinator for YRE USA, I had the good fortune to travel to Malta for this gathering in February.

Representatives from 22 countries gathered for the annual Young Reporters meeting in Malta in February 2013.

Young Reporters for the Environment, like Eco-Schools, is a program of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). While YRE operates a little differently in each country, the basic structure is the same. Students investigate environmental issues in their communities, learn journalism techniques, and report on their findings in writing, photography or videography. They share their work locally and then submit it to a national competition for review by a panel of jurors. National winners proceed to the international competition.

The meeting included representatives from 22 different countries (of 27 currently participating in the program). It provided an opportunity to share information and brainstorm ideas for continued development of the program. Some countries, including Cyprus, Portugal, and Morocco, have hosted YRE for a decade or more and have a wealth of experience to contribute. Others, including the United States, are in our inaugural year. In particular, we discussed how to better integrate YRE with Eco-Schools, the other FEE program that NWF hosts. There is excellent potential for Eco-Schools students at the middle and high school levels to investigate and report on issues related to their Eco-Schools work. Younger students could also report on their school’s projects, learning journalism techniques that will prepare them to enter the YRE competition in the future (YRE USA is open to youth ages 13–18).

Our meeting concluded with a workshop by expert nature photographer Dr. Mark Mifsud from the University of Malta. After demonstrating some techniques with examples from his own work, Dr. Mifsud sent us out into Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park to practice with our cameras. Back in the classroom, we each chose two photos for the group to consider and, in a speed-round of judging, used our new knowledge to identify the most successful shots. It was a fun exercise that will help all of us better understand the role of both students and jury in the YRE competition!

The Azure Window on Malta’s smaller island of Gozo, one of the most spectacular views I saw along the small country’s many miles of Mediterranean coastline.

Not only did we enjoy the opportunity for international collaboration, we also had a chance to see Malta’s beautiful countryside and coast and learn about the islands’ long and varied history. We were even invited to an event with the Prime Minister! Many thanks to our host organization, Nature Trust Malta, for their wonderful hospitality.

The international aspect of YRE is a great strength and provides participants with a unique opportunity to take part in a truly global endeavor. I greatly value the chance to connect with people from so many different countries all working toward a common goal of environmental awareness and action.

There are still a few more days until the March 15, 2013 deadline for the first annual YRE USA competition – it’s not too late to submit an entry! Learn more about the program and find all the details for participating at yre-usa.org.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2013/03/malta-hosts-young-reporters-meeting/feed/076142A Student Voice on Young Reporters for the Environmenthttp://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/student-voice-young-reporters/
http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/student-voice-young-reporters/#commentsMon, 01 Oct 2012 13:11:46 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=67095This month, National Wildlife Federation launched the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) program in the United States. YRE is an international program active in more than 25 countries around the world and coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Like Eco-Schools USA, YRE USA connects students in this country to a global network of youth working on behalf of the environment. Through YRE USA, middle and high school students investigate environmental issues in their communities and report on them in writing, photo, or video. Kent Keller, a high school student in Chicago and YRE participant, shares his perspectives on the program here.

Kent Keller with his “Birds-in-a-Box” kit

Millions of school children living in cities are surrounded by buildings, cars, buses and concrete. These children have almost no interaction with nature or wildlife in their daily lives. As a result, most never develop an appreciation for conservation or protection of the natural environment. I attend high school in downtown Chicago and observe this almost every day.

To combat this, I created an educational tool kit designed to inform elementary students in urban Chicago about birds and their relationship with urban ecosystems. My idea was to get them to first understand the wildlife in their own backyard, which might lead to a broader concern for conservation around the planet. With grant funding, I created my educational tool kits, which I dubbed “Birds-In-A-Box.” The kits contain materials such as books, examples of bird food, and objects that demonstrate the uses of bird beaks. The kits also contain stuffed bird toys that emit songs when pressed (complete with information sheets about each bird) and a binder full of educational material. Finally, there is a packet with student worksheets about birds.

After developing the “Birds-In-A-Box” kits, I presented and donated the kits to Chicago elementary schools. The material was well received by both students and teachers. In addition, the school administrations were happy to have me present, and expressed interest in having me return to present my kit and other environmental topics to more students. To my delight, the Field Museum in Chicago (where I was an intern for the summer) plans to incorporate “Birds-In-A-Box” elements into their urban educational program. I also wrote an article about my project and entered it into the international environmental journalism contest run by Young Reporters for the Environment and received an award for third place.

The world is facing many grave environmental problems, which plague almost every corner of the planet. I believe that the Young Reporters program provides youth with an excellent opportunity to voice their concerns and educate others about these environmental challenges. In addition, the Young Reporters program prompts youth to take real, concrete action on environmental issues, in addition to simply writing about them.

The Young Reporters program has a simple goal that I share—to spur students to build awareness and take conscious action in their community. It is a call to “get involved,” whether to encourage a change in habits or address a glaring issue in the local environment. I want to encourage students across the United States in every grade to find their voice and become a Young Reporter for the Environment!

The YRE USA team applauds Kent Keller for both his winning entry in the YRE competition and his great work connecting elementary students with nature through his innovative bird kits. Kent is a student at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, Illinois and invites you to find out more about “Birds-in-a-Box” at ConservationStarters.com. He has a passion for wildlife conservation and, as the first participant in the new YRE USA program, is leading the charge for a new wave of youth to take on the challenges and rewards of environmental journalism.

]]>http://blog.nwf.org/2012/10/student-voice-young-reporters/feed/267095Weekly News Roundup – September 28, 2012http://blog.nwf.org/2012/09/weekly-news-roundup-september-28/
http://blog.nwf.org/2012/09/weekly-news-roundup-september-28/#respondFri, 28 Sep 2012 20:22:12 +0000http://blog.nwf.org/?p=67360Want to know what National Wildlife Federation was up to this week? Here is a recap of the week’s NWF news:

September 28 – As the United States host of the international Young Reporters for the Environment program, the National Wildlife Federation has started recruiting public, private and charter middle and high school students in the U.S. to participate in an annual competition that encourages and promotes youth environmental journalism.

The new Young Reporters for the Environment USA (YRE-USA) program is part of a rapidly-growing international network of international youth engaged in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). It is coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education and currently operates in more than 25 countries. The United States is one of the more recent countries to join this effort.

September 25 – A new national poll released today shows sportsmen prioritize protecting public lands above energy production. The poll conducted by Chesapeake Beach Consulting shows threats to America’s conservation heritage are priority issues for sportsmen, on par with gun rights.

“Hunters and anglers tend to be conservative politically, but many are split-ticket and independent voters. What’s clear from this poll is that sportsmen deeply value conservation and believe we have a moral responsibility to confront global warming to protect our children’s future,” said Bob Carpenter, president of Chesapeake Beach Consulting.

“Through shifting political winds, sportsmen have not flinched in their conservation values,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Candidates at all levels should answer this simple question: What’s your plan for protecting our outdoor heritage for our children’s future? These are ethics that sustain America’s wildlife, outdoor economy and healthy families.”

September 24 – National Wildlife Federation, America’s largest conservation organization, announces the third annual Hike & Seek events. Hike & Seek is a series of fundraising outings that inspire a child’s sense of adventure by combining a nature hike and scavenger hunt. It brings children and adults together for a few hours in the great outdoors for some fresh fall air and fun and provides an opportunity to rediscover nature.

It doesn’t require any advance preparation; interested moms, dads, kids or whole families can sign up at www.hikeandseek.org and then show up ready to spend some family time in nature.

The General Assembly is where all the participating host countries that run FEE’s education programs gather to make decisions on the group’s direction. NWF is the FEE host organization in the United States for the Eco-Schools USA program and the soon to be launched Young Reporters for the Environment program.

This year’s meeting was especially important, as decisions were made regarding where FEE will be located and how it will be structured in the future.

Coming Together as a Family

It reminded me of Thanksgiving in many ways. For my non-American friends, Thanksgiving is a traditional U.S. holiday held in November, and it is often highlighted by friends and family celebrating together and giving thanks for life’s many blessings.

An Taisce was our host for the FEE General Assembly. (photo by Laura Hickey)

The FEE General Assembly is very much like that, mostly because we are all part of a very large family. Sure, there’s cranky Uncle Bob who wants to argue about minutiae, and good-humored Cousin Sue who just wants us all to get along, but there’s also a general feeling of connectedness and solidarity, especially with respect to the FEE programs we deliver nationally, and how we learn, share, respect and admire each other as well.

An Taisce was our host for the FEE General Assembly in Ireland. An Taisce is an incredible organization that has a tremendous staff and leader in Pat Oliver, the head of their Education programs—one of my favorite people ever (I so want to be her when I grow up). Her amazing staff, Dr. Michael John O’Mahony, Anthony Purcell, Annabel Fitzgerald, and so many others arranged a well-orchestrated meeting, travel logistics, and fun cultural events that would be difficult to eclipse.

One of the items that was in our “welcome” bag was a lovely bottle of perfume called Inis. Even more sweet was the sentiment on the packaging:

Inis is Irish for island,But no one is an island:We are all connected,By seas, by oceans, by dreams,Through keeping the channels clear.A sea change – for all of us.

An Taisce's Pat Oliver and colleague. (photo by Laura Hickey)

I’m thankful for all of my colleagues from all around the world, working so hard to make it a better place for all of us. I’m equally as thankful for the incredible FEE president, Jan Eriksen, and staff (Finn, Bernard, Sarah, Anna, Rikke, and everyone else), and the hard working FEE volunteer board. My personal thanks to those departing board members, John Summers (our FEE mentor), Henny Kromhout; and Petr Danis—thank you for your leadership, advice, and support; and hearty congratulations to our newest board members.

I’m lucky in many ways: having two Thanksgivings in one year, being connected to such a fantastic extended family, and getting to visit incredibly beautiful countries like Ireland.